HR 3440 United States House · 118th Congress

Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

This bill removes geographic restrictions on Medicare telehealth services, allowing rural beneficiaries to receive care at home or remotely starting January 1, 2025. It specifically expands access for critical access hospitals and rural health clinics by standardizing payments for telehealth services and permitting audio-only visits for certain providers like doctors and clinics with established patient relationships. The bill also extends Medicare flexibilities for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics beyond 2024. These changes aim to improve healthcare access in underserved rural communities by removing prior barriers to telehealth.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2023

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced May 17, 2023 Last action Dec 17, 2024

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 17, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

May 19, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

May 17, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

May 17, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors